The spy’s nonchalant comment that "there’ll be some of them die
of the heat today." (p.3) Normal people would be shocked to know
that some of the individuals they are watching would be dead within a
few hours, but the spy has grown numb to it.

Enemy Friends:

The Civil War was unlike other wars (such as the Gulf War, Vietnam,
or WWII) in that the two sides were very similar culturally. Lee "is
the most beloved man in either army." (p.xvi) Pickett "received
his appointment to West Point through the good offices of Abraham Lincoln,
a personal friend, and no one no can insult Abe Lincoln in Pickett’s presence."
(p. xvii) Armistead "has developed over long years of service a deep
affection for Winfield Scott Hancock, who fights now with the Union."
(p.xvii) One of the quotations following the foreword is from when Lee
turned down Lincoln’s offer to head the Union army. Also keep in mind
the stories of those Civil War families in which one brother left to fight
for the Confederacy while the other enlisted with the Union. Men end up
killing their friends merely because the high generals and politicians
tell them to.

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Shows one who can be trusted:

"[Amistead] was one of the rare ones who was genuinely glad to see
another man advance. In some of them there was a hunger for rank--in Jubal
Early it was a disease--but Amistead...was an honest man, open as the
sunrise, cut from the same pattern as Lee: old family, Virginia gentleman,
man of honor, man of duty. He was one of the men who would...die for a
word. He was a man to depend on, and there was this truth about war: it
taught you the men you could depend on.’ " (p.62)

Blurs line between right and wrong:

" ‘Mrs. Pender...believes that now that we have invaded Pennsylvania
we are in the wrong , and God has forsaken us.’ " (p.79) Where does
one draw the line between what is wrong and right when there are few clear
rules in war, if any?

The Good Ground Theme

The relatively primitive weapons of the Civil War era gave
much advantage to the army that had gained the higher ground.
This advantage is what caused Buford to take such risks to
secure the hills around town and is what allowed the Union
forces to win.

The Civilians Theme: conflict and cooperation

Conflict:

"Here and there along the road people came out to see the troops
go by and there were a few cheers, but most of the people were silent
and glum, not hostile, apprehensive. The sight was depressing. Some of
them were selling food to the troops. One farmer had a stand offering
cold milk for sale, at outrageous prices, and after Chamberlain was past
there was a scuffle and some of the men requisitioned the milk and told
him to charge it to the U.S. Government. Chamberlain heard but did not
look back." (p.115)

Cooperation:

"Now there were more people and they were much more friendly and
the band struck up ‘Yankee Doodle.’ Now the farmers began to hand out
free food." (p.115) Symbol (band)

The Jackson’s Absence Theme

The confederacy’s loss of Jackson was one of the key factors in
the Union’s victory at Gettysburg. The indecisive Hill and
Ewell are unfit replacements for the aggressive Jackson, and
Lee’s frustration with his two new generals grows as the book
progresses.

The Europe Theme

Fremantle is the primary source of the book’s occasional focus
on Europe: "Fremantle...was continually amazed at the
combination of raw earth and rough people, white columned
houses and traces of English manner." (p.127)

"They will come when we don’t need them, like the bank
offering money when you’re no longer in debt." (p.54) So thinks
the skeptical realist Longstreet.